Swimming apparatus.



H. GRAWFORD. SWIMMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLIED JUNE 2, 1913.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

HARRY CRAWFORD, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

osaaas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Application filed June 2, 1913. Serial No. 771,332.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Swimming Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for attaching to the bodies of bathers and swimmers to assist in swimming; and has for its object the provision of a simple and improved apparatus of this character, which very materially facilitates the swimming action and enables a person to have a very much faster movement through the water than is otherwise possible, and which also has a buoyant action to assist in supporting the weight of the body in the water.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

The invention is sfully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 illustrates the manner of use of the apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are front end views thereof preparatory to making the down and return strokes, respectively, and Fig. 4 is a plan of the apparatus with a part broken away.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate the fins or wings of my apparatus, which are hingedly connected together in any suitable manner along a central line 3 and cooperate to form a triangular shaped apparatus which gradually narrows from its outer end inwardly with each wing thereof preferably in the form of a right triangle. The apparatus is made of canvas, sheet rubher, or other material suitable for the purpose, and is provided at its outer broadened end with a hem 4 in which is inserted a stiffening rod or member 5, which extends from one side to the other of the broadened end of the apparatus and is hinged at its center in register with the hinge line 3, as shown at 6,

to permit the wings 1 and 2 to have relative folding and unfolding movements. It is preferable to make the wings 1 and 2 hollow or in bag form to permit an inflating of the same, an air inlet nipple 7 being provided at one end of the apparatus for such purpose.

The inner or narrow end of the apparatus is provided with tie-strings 8 to facilitate an attaching of such end of the apparatus to the neck of a person, as shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus should be of suitable length for the wearer to easily reach and grasp the outer end corners thereof when his arms are outstretched.

In the use of my improved swimming apparatus, the wearer assumes a swimming attitude in'the water and preparatory to taking a swimming stroke grasps the outer end corners of the apparatus and holds the same extended forward in substantially fiat position, as shown in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 1. During the down or swimming strokes the pressure applied to the outer edges of the apparatus causes a slight folding movement of the same whereby it has a more eiiicient propelling action. Upon the return stroke the apparatus is doubled up as shown in Fig. 3 to adapt it to cut the water and prevent the resistance to the forward movement of the swimmer which would otherwise be present. When the apparatus has been raised to substantially horizontal position it is opened up preparatory to making the next down stroke. If the apparatus is inflated so as to make it of a buoyant nature, the swimmer may, when tired, hold the apparatus in horizontal or reclining position and rest his head thereon, as indicated in Fig. 1, or he can swing the apparatus under the body to serve as a buoyant support therefor.

It is found in practice that a swimmer with the aid of my improved apparatus can move through the water from twice to three times as fast as without the use of the same and that it not only causes an acceleration of speed but is also of considerable assistance to persons learning to swim.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction or arrangement of the parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. A swimming apparatus comprising a pair of wings hingedly connected along a longitudinal line and capable of attaching to and extending forward from the neck of the user.

2. A swimming apparatus comprising a pair of wings foldably connected along a longitudinal center line and cooperating to form a member which narrows from its outer end inwardly, and means at the inner end thereof for attaching it to the upper portion of the user.

3. A swimming apparatus comprising a foldable member for attaching to and extending forward from the neck of a person and of being grasped at the outer end edges by the hands of the user and moved downward and rearward under the body of the user upon a swimming stroke, the member folding upon the return stroke to provide a forward water cutting edge.

41-. A swimming apparatus comprising a pair of Wings hingedly connected at their inner longitudinal edges and having their forward ends broadened, stiffening means at the forward ends of the wings capable of folding movements with the wings, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for means at the opposite ends of, the wings for attaching them to the neck portion of a person.

5. A swimming apparatus comprising a substantially flat member of pliant material which tapers from its outer end inwardly, reinforcing means extending across the forward broadened end of the member and having a central hinge joint to permit folding movements of the member along a central longitudinal line, and means at the inner narrowed end of the member for at caching it to the neck of a person.

6. A swimming apparatus comprising a pair of wings adapted to extend forward from the neck portion of a person and hingedly connected alongvtheir inner 1ongitudinal edges, said wings broadening from their inner ends outwardly and being capable of inflation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY CRAWFORD. Witnesses C. W. OWEN, F. E. AUL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. 0. 

